Leigh Creek

Leigh Creek lies on Adnyamathanha Country in the northern Flinders Ranges of South Australia, about 560 km north of Adelaide. Coal mining began here in the 1940s to fuel South Australia's power stations. In the early 1980s the town was moved to its present site so the open-cut mine could expand, giving Leigh Creek its tidy, planned streets and leafy layout. Mining ended in 2015, and the town now serves travellers, nearby communities and stations. It is a good base for the rugged northern Flinders and the start of the outback tracks.

Things to do in and around Leigh Creek

• Aroona Dam. A few kilometres from town, a scenic dam set among hills, with toilets, picnic facilities and birdlife.
• Town walks. Explore the planned streets, parks and the small shopping centre.
• Copley. A tiny township just north of Leigh Creek, known among travellers for its bakery and as the turnoff to Nepabunna and Arkaroola.
• Lyndhurst. About 40 km north, where the sealed road ends and the Strzelecki Track begins. Nearby ochre pits are a significant cultural site; view them from the paths.
• Beltana. South of Leigh Creek, a historic township with stone ruins, once a centre for pastoralism, the railway and the Overland Telegraph.
• Parachilna. Further south, a tiny settlement with a well-known outback hotel and access to Parachilna Gorge.

Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges and Arkaroola

East of Leigh Creek via Copley, the road leads to Nepabunna and then to Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park and Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary. These are some of the most rugged landscapes in South Australia, with deep gorges, ancient rocks and yellow-footed rock-wallabies. Arkaroola offers ridgetop tours, walks and an observatory. The Adnyamathanha community at Nepabunna, and Iga Warta nearby, offer cultural experiences; see Aboriginal-led experiences. Roads are unsealed and close after rain.

Getting there

Leigh Creek is on the sealed road north from Hawker to Lyndhurst. From Lyndhurst, unsealed tracks lead to Marree (for the Oodnadatta and Birdsville tracks) and along the Strzelecki Track to Innamincka. Leigh Creek has an airport. Check road conditions with Traffic SA or the SA Government's outback roads page before heading onto the tracks.

Where to stay

Leigh Creek has a hotel with rooms and resort-style accommodation, a caravan park and camping. Arkaroola has its own resort, cabins and camping.

History in brief

Coal was found at Leigh Creek in the late 19th century, but large-scale mining began during the Second World War, when coal supplies from interstate were uncertain. The coal fed power stations at Port Augusta for decades. The relocation of the town in the 1980s was a major engineering project. When the Port Augusta power stations closed in 2016 and the mine shut, the town's future was uncertain, but it has continued as a service centre for the region.

Adnyamathanha Country

The Adnyamathanha ("hills people") are the Traditional Owners of the northern Flinders Ranges. Their stories explain the creation of the ranges, gorges and waterholes. Nepabunna, east of Copley, is an Adnyamathanha community. Ask locally about cultural tours, and respect signs at cultural sites.

Suggested two days

Day one. Settle in at Leigh Creek, walk around Aroona Dam in the late afternoon and stay for sunset.

Day two. Drive to Copley for breakfast, continue to Nepabunna and Arkaroola, and stay overnight in the ranges. Alternatively, drive north to Lyndhurst to see the ochre pits before starting the Strzelecki Track.

When to visit

April to October is the most comfortable season. Summer is very hot, and some walks and tracks may close in extreme heat or after rain.

Tips

• Fuel and supplies. Fill up in Leigh Creek; services further north are limited.
• Check the tracks. Outback roads close after rain, sometimes for days.
• Watch for wildlife. Kangaroos, emus and goats are common at dawn and dusk.
• Respect cultural sites. Do not remove ochre or disturb sites.

Wildlife

The northern Flinders are excellent for wildlife. Look for yellow-footed rock-wallabies on rocky slopes, euros and red kangaroos on the plains, and wedge-tailed eagles overhead. Aroona Dam attracts waterbirds. See our outback wildlife guide.

Fuel, phones and medical help

Leigh Creek Health Service on Black Oak Drive is a nurse-managed clinic with an on-call GP (phone 08 8678 6022). The nearest larger hospital is in Port Augusta.

Fuel, LPG exchange and an ATM are available at the service station on Black Oak Drive, listed as open 8am to 6pm daily, and the town has an IGA. Copley, just to the north, also sells fuel. The nearest larger centre for banking and shopping is Port Augusta, about 270 km south.

Travelling with kids

Families can enjoy the short walks and wildlife spotting around Aroona Dam, where yellow-footed rock-wallabies are sometimes seen.

Aroona Dam and Aroona Sanctuary

Aroona Dam is a small reservoir in the hills south of Leigh Creek. Paddle SA's Paddling Trails South Australia says it is about 6 km south of town along a dirt track. The track is rough, but you don't need a 4WD. There is car parking above the dam, along with toilets and picnic facilities.

The dam is known for its wildlife. Paddling Trails SA lists wallabies, swans, kangaroos and turtles. It also gives these details:

• Paddling. An easy 5 km paddling loop around the dam, allowing about two hours.
• Fishing. The dam is stocked with Murray cod and callop, and a permit is required to fish.
• History. The Electricity Trust of South Australia built the dam between 1952 and 1957 to supply Leigh Creek and its coalfield.
• Sanctuary. In 1995 the dam and 43 km² of surrounding land were declared the Aroona Sanctuary.

Check NPWS SA closures before you visit. In 2026, the sanctuary closes intermittently for pest control. The closures run from 6 pm on 19 March to 6 am on 24 March, and from 6 pm on 11 June to 6 am on 16 June. Further closures run from 6 pm on 27 August to 6 am on 1 September, and from 6 pm on 26 November to 6 am on 1 December.

Don't confuse it with Aroona Campground in Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, which is a separate site much further south.

Practical information

• Distance: about 560 km north of Adelaide.
• Best time: April to October.
• Related: Hawker, Ikara-Flinders Ranges, Strzelecki Track, Marree, Outback SA.

Further north-east: Arkaroola.

Nearby park guide: Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges.